We need to protest

Thank you for publishing my letter on California Crossrods subject last week.

I thought that your leading article on the California Crossroads mess was very apt.

First, it was very important to stress that threats and attacks on road workers are dreadful. Second, it was crucial to point out that the Lib Dems missed a golden opportunity to make the works more appropriate, more acceptable to residents and completed more quickly.

While in no way condoning the criminal acts that occurred, road workers (or, more accurately, their managers and the planners who should check rigorously on the works) are not entirely blameless about the resentment felt against them.

When did anyone pass works where all the people on site were working (or even anyone working or there actually being anyone on site at all)?

Of course, workers are entitled to breaks but it is just not feasible that on every occasion we pass works, it is break time.

On Friday, I counted at least 23 “workers” either standing around or going into the station for coffee, when I passed the level crossing at Wokingham Station.

It will be a miracle if these works are completed in the stated month, which is far too long, anyway.

The Japanese repaired an earthquake-damaged motorway in a week and, in Spain I have witnessed people working really hard to repair a footpath over a bridge.

Some form of peaceful direct action would be an appropriate way of channelling the justified frustration, I think.

Standing with placards outside the entrance to the Council car park and telling staff working in the road planning department (other departments, particularly that managing the disposal of garden waste, are really good) what voters think of their performance would be good, in my view.

In particular, the practice of routinely permitting works on roads that are alternatives to each other at the same time should be severely curtailed.

John Sheridan, via email